300-420 Question 90
Single answerAn enterprise network is experiencing long convergence times and scalability issues due to the deployment of traditional Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) in a large Layer 2 network. As the network designer, you need to recommend a solution to improve STP scalability and reduce convergence times. Which of the following design choices would best address these issues?
- A
Implement Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) instead of traditional STP.
- B
Segment the Layer 2 network into smaller regions using Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP).
- C
Increase the STP hello timer to reduce processing overhead.
- D
Deploy Layer 3 routing to replace STP entirely.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Segmenting the Layer 2 network using MSTP is the best choice to improve STP scalability, as it allows grouping of VLANs into regions, reducing the number of STP instances and ensuring faster convergence. This approach strikes a balance between scalability and performance in large Layer 2 enterprise networks.
- A. Incorrect.
While RSTP improves convergence times compared to traditional STP, it does not address scalability issues in large Layer 2 networks. This option is only a partial solution.
- B. Correct.
Segmenting the Layer 2 network using MSTP improves scalability and reduces the number of STP instances by grouping VLANs into regions, making it an effective solution for both scalability and convergence.
- C. Incorrect.
Increasing the STP hello timer reduces protocol activity but can increase convergence time, which negatively impacts network performance.
- D. Incorrect.
Replacing STP with Layer 3 routing eliminates Layer 2 scalability issues, but this is not always feasible in scenarios requiring Layer 2 connectivity, making this an unsuitable solution in many enterprise designs.